Headrest



J. s. LEEB HEAD REST Dec. l5, 1942.

2 Sheets-Sheet l kFiled Sept. 18, 1941 www Dec. l5, 1942. s. LEEB`2,305,173

HEAD REST Filed Sept. 18, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 aa M 'vwe's (./OHN S,EEB

.latented Dec. 15, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE nnanaas'r John s.Leen. Baltimore, Ma.

Applicaties september 1s, 1941, semi No. 411,214,

(ci. s-sis) BClalms.

The present invention relates to an improved type of head rest andvessel or hollow receptacle particularly adapted for medicinal use forincreasing the diffusion of medicated vapors and odors into theatmosphere from volatile oils or powders, and its combination with ahead rest having means particularly adapted for use with the saidvessel.

The beneficial eiiects derived from the inhalation of medicated vaporsand odors, as amedicinal remedy, is well known. In this respect where itis desired to obtain relief from pain and discomfort due to irritationor iniiammation ofthe varied and intricate anatomy identiiid withbreathing, such as the nose, throat, lungs, etc., it is a commonpractice to pour various types of volatile medicinal oils upon the headrest or pillow of the sufferer for purposes of enabling him toconstantly inhale these beneficial vapors while sleeping or in arecumbent position.

This method has proven to be indeed a very beneiicial one and also veryeffective. However, this method of use tends to stain and soil the headrest and is Asomewhat wasteful, due to the necessity of pouring portionsof the oil at various points over'most of the upper face of the headrest to make certain the suierer in moving his head from one treatedzone will be certain to move his head to another equally effectivemedicated zone.

Another method ofy treatment is to use the well known medicated steamvapor treatment. The preparation for this treatment is veryinconvenient, tiresome and somewhat precarious due to the inhalation ofthe hot vapors opening the pores of both the breathing passages and theexternal skin surface coming into contact with the hot vapors. Due tothe variation between the hot vapor and atmospheric temperatures, unlessthis particular type of treatment is handled with great care, theresults may prove negative and highly unsatisfactory, causing increasedirritation and discomfort to the suerer.

It is the purpose and object of the present invention to overcome thesediilculties by providing means whereby a suierer or patient asidentiiied above may have means for the inhalation of medicated vaporsat substantially body temperature, emanating from a head rest or pillowwithout the inconvenience, undue exposure and T precarious results asset forth above and also with other crude methods and involvedapparatus.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide an improved typeof vessel to hold volatile oils and liquids or dry medicinal compoundsor powders in single or double compartments in the same vessel;convenient self-closing stoppels for said vessels; a highly porous bodystructure for the vessel, preferably sponge or aerated rubber; meanswithin the vessel compartment to support the volatile oils.

Additional objects of the present invention are to provide head restshaving means particularly adaptable for acceptance and use of the saidvessel in combination therewith the head rests having means forsupporting and positioning the vessels at or near their long edgestructures or near the upper longitudinal center oi' the head rests fora specific purpose to be hereinafter described; means for increasing thediffusion. of vapors through the combined body structures of the headrest and vessel; means for retaining the vessels in separatecompartments in the head rest structure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a head rest foraerated or sponge rubber, having a vessel for carrying a volatile oil orliquid, positioned Within the body structure of the head rest, the saidvessel being comprised of aereated or sponge rubber with expanding andcontracting means for retaining thevessel within the said head reststructure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a head rest havingmeans in the form of an enclosing cover provided wtih means forretaining the vessel in a position in juxtaposition to one of the longedges of the head rest structure or near the upper longitudinal centerof the head rest.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certainother novel features of construction and combination of parts as will bespecifically described in the following description and claims.

In the accompanying drawings Ihave illustrated several forms of volatileoil, liquid'or dry compound containing vessels with several forms ofhead rests for supporting and retaining the said vessels, embodying thevarious features of my invention.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of my combined novel head rest structure andmedicinal vapor vessels, illustrating the position of the vessels withinthe head rest structure. l

Fig. 2 is a front elevation `of the same.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 of thedrawings, illustrating the internalv construction of 'my head rest andvapor vessel and the location of the vessel at one of the long edges ofthe head rest.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of a p0rtion of the head rest,illustrating the outside appearance of the self closing or sealingopening through which the medicinal vapor vessel is passed when beinginserted in its respective compartment.

Fig. 5 is afragmentary sectional view taken on a line parallel to thelong axis of the head rest and one of the medicinal vapor vesselcompartments illustrating a slightly modified form of head reststructure.

Fig. 6 is a view in elevation of my medicinal vapor vessel, a portion ofthe upper structure being shown broken away and in section for purposesof disclosing the vessel and self closing stoppel structures at thispoint.

Fig. '1 is a view in elevation of a slightly modined form of medicinalvapor vessel illustrating a double or dual form of vessel structure.

Fig. 8 is a detail view of a piece of rolled or packed fibre or feltused as an insert within the vessel chamber for purposes of holding byabsorption and saturation predetermined quantities of volatile oils orliquids.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a head rest having an enclosing cover,provided with means for retaining the medicinal vapor vessels either injuxtaposition to one of the long edges of the head rest, or near the toplongitudinal center area of the head rest.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line llli0 of Fig.8.

Fig. 11 is also a fragmentary sectional view, taken on the line II--IIof Fig. 8.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary detailview, in perspective of one end of thehead rest cover, illustrating the Ahem or tubular edge portion of thecover into which the vessel is inserted and the ties used to close theopen ends of the hem portion.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view of a medicinal vapor vessel asused in the hem or.

tubular portion of the cover.

Fig. 14 is a detail view of a fibre or felt insert used in the vessel.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals, each of whichrepresents or refers to the same or similar parts throughout the variousviews, the invention consists of a head rest l;

preferably made of sponge or aerated rubber,

and having a substantially elliptical formation as shown in crosssection in Fig. 3; having elongated tubular or cylindrical hollowportions 2, 2', 3 and 3', formed therein, the axes of which in thepresent invention are preferably horizontal and parallel to the longaxis of the head rest, and in which the medicinal vapor vessels l may bereadily and conveniently inserted through the yielding or self closingopening closure-5. t

The closure element 5, in the present instance, being an integral partof the sponge or aerated rubber hea-d rest and being split or separableon the line 6 and at its tongue and groove formation l. It may bereadily seen the elasticity of the material will allow the split portion5 and its respective tongue and groove structures to be easily separatedby stretching suiiiciently to conveniently insert the medicinal vaporvessel l into any one of the respective chambers 2, 2', 3 and 3. Thepurpose of this type of elastic and resilient closure is to providemeans for keeping the vapor chambers 2, 2', 3 and 3' normally closed thechamber by way of the respective chamber openings compelling the vaporsto filter through the pores of the sponge or aerated rubber particularlyto the upper surface .of the head rest where the medicated vapors mayreadily be inhaled and breathed in a substantially direct manner fromtheir original source of supply, thus, when using the head rest tosupport the incumbent or head in a; normal reclining position, also whenusing the head rest during sleeping periods, the medicated vaporsconstantly emanating and ascending from the head rest surface enablesthe sleeper to constantly inhale the vapors from the volatile oilswithin vapor vessels 4, positioned within the head rest structure.

Another purpose of using this type of sponge rubber closure is toprevent any discomfort to a sleeper should his head rest directly overthe sponge rubber closure structure. It will be noted in this respect inview of the planes of the upper and lower surfaces of the split portionof the tongue and groove structures of the closure 5 being substantiallyin a horizontal plane, upon a sleeper resting his head directly over ornear the closure structure 5 the head weight will tend to cause theseparts to close to a tighter degree of interengaging contact therebyincreasing the effectiveness of this closure sealing means to preventthe vapors escaping from the head rest vessel chambers.

It will be noted that there are two sets of vessel positioning chambers2, 2' and 3, 3', one set vbeing near the lower edge and the other setbeing near the upper longitudinal axis of the head rest, thus providingmeans for varying the location of the vapor vessels according to thedesires of the user.

For purposes of increasing the diffusion of the vapors and to enable theuser to inhale the same at substantially body temperatures, the vesselsat all times so as to keep the vapors from leaving vessel chamber.

are preferably positioned at the lower edge of the head rest as shown inFig. 1 of the drawings. In this instance, when resting the head on thehead rest in the usual manner, the lower edge of the head rest andvessels would be substantially in line with the lower part of the neckand shoulders, thereby causing the vapors toy arise from the lowerportion of the structure at body temperature when the shoulders andupper portion of the body are well protected with bed covers.` The bodyheat tending to increase the volatile action of the oils in throwing offtheir vapors and enabling the user to breathe these vapors at bodytemperature with a maximum of effectiveness as they arise from under thebed covers directly to the nasal and throat passages.

Fig. 5 of the drawings discloses a slightly modified form of head restas to means for increasing the speed of release of the vapors from theIn this respect the head rest and vessel chambers are provided withopenings 8, as shown, whereby the released vapors from the vessel membermay move to the upper area of the head rest with less resistance throughthese openings 8 as well as by the slower process of passing through theporous structure of the head rest.

Referring to Figs. 6 and l of the drawings illustrating single anddouble chambered medicinal vapor, aerated or sponge rubber vesselsrespectively. The chamber 9 of the single chambered rubber vessel 4 isshown as having an insert or filler of felt Il, or any suitable type offibrous material. for the purpose of providing means when liquids orhighly volatile oils are introduced into the vessel chamber 3 the feltinsert II `will take up the liquid by absorbtion or capillary actionthereby tending to distribute the liquid evenly throughout the area ofthe chamberand tending to hold it in a suspended state, giving a muchmore even distribution of the vapors through the porous structure oi'the vessel with a longer period of effectiveness and also preventingsaturated spottiness in the head rest structure.

'I'he materials used in the present invention are not only eiective asto their inherent physical functions but also as to'cleanliness andsanitation.v The various units of the invention may be readil'yfffwashedwithout harmful effects to either function or structure.

The opening I2 of the vessel 4 is providedwith a yielding-and selfclosing rubber stoppel I3, having means for positioning and retainingthe same at the opening I2 of the vessel 4, comprising an annularextending rib or raised portion I4, positioned in an annular recessedportion i5' in the vessel structure, and a ilanged head structure I6. Arubber band I1 may be used and positioned near the open end of thevessel as shown for purposes of providing additional means for retainingthe stoppel in fixed relation to the opening I2 of the vessel.

The bottom I8 of the stoppel I3 is provided with a slit portion I9,which remains normally closed, thus providing means whereby the stoppelchamber 20 may be used to measure the quantity of medicated solution itis desired to introduce within the vessel 4. After illing the chamber20, it is only necessary to exert a slight squeezing pressure on eachend of the slit portion I9 whereby the same will be caused to open,thereby releasing the contents of the chamber 20 into the vessel chamberproper. Upon releasing this squeezing pressure, the slit portion willreturn to a substantially closed position, thereby preventing any undueescape of the medicated vapors from the vessel by way of the respectivestoppel and opening structures, and causing these vapors to be releasedthrough the porous wall structure of the vessel.

Referring to Fig, 7 of the drawings a vapor vessel 2I having twoseparate chambers 22 and 23 respectively with their respective openings24 and 25 at the respective opposite ends 26 and 2l of the vessel, theseopenings are each provided with the hereinbefore described stoppels I3.The purpose of the separate chambers is to provide means whereby twodifferent kinds of medicants may be used in the one vessel without thenecessity of mixing the elements where it would not be desirable,particularly where a. combined dry compound, such as spices or medicinalherbs, etc., in powder form and a medicated liquid as volatile oils suchas oil of camphor, pine oil, etc. were used.

Referring to Figs. 9 to 12 and particularly to Fig. 9 of the drawings,the head rest 25 may be provided with a cover 26 having means wherebythe vapor vessels 4 may be positioned at various points in relation tothe upper surface 21 of the head rest. In this respect the cover v26 isprovided with front edge pockets 28 and 23' and upper surface pockets 29and 29'. These respective sets of pockets are separated and formed bythe double row of stitching 30 and 30' and may each be provided withclosure ties 3|, 3|' and 32, 32' at each of their respective openings33, 33', 34

and 34' as shown particularly in detail in Fig. 12 of the drawings.

The edge pockets 23 and 28 are otherwise formed by stitching therespective upper and lower cover portions 35 and 33 together by the lineof stitching 3l as shown.

The upper surface pockets 29 and 23' are otherwise formed by stitchingthe longitudinal edges of the elongated i'abric, strip 33 to the upperportion 35 of the cover by stitching as indicated at 39 and 39'.

It is understood that a ap type of closure might be used at therespective openings to each of the vessel pockets for purposes ofcompletely sealing these openings against the escape of vapor at thesepoints. However, it is felt, in view of the low resistance and highporosity of the fabric used for this type of cover, that the vapors fromthe vessels will readily pass directly through the fabric without anyperceptible losses through the respective pocket openings. However, ifit should be desirable to decrease the resistance of the passage of thevapors from the pockets to the atmosphere, small Ventilating openings 40may be provided as shown identified with pockets 28 and 23'.

It is understood only a limited number of medicated vapor vessels andtheir pockets have been shown in the various figures of the drawings,particularly Figs. 1, 3 and 9, it should be fully understood it is theintention of the inventor to distribute these pockets over the upperexposed surl face of the head rest wherever desirable and in numberssuitable to meet demands.

I have thus described my invention in detail in order that its operationand structure may be fully comprehended, however, it is understood theterms used herein are used in a descriptive manner and not intended tobe applied in a limiting sense; the scope of the invention being definedin the claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A pillow for use as a head rest comprising an integral block ofresilient porous material, said block having pockets beneath a surfacethereof and containers having porous walls and composed of similarlyresilient material fitting in said pockets, said pockets having openingsfor the introduction o1' aromatic material and closures for said pocketscomposed in their substantial entirety of similarly resilient materialsaid closures having means whereby the pocket openings are normallyclosed to retain the aromatic material for release through the porousblock and hence from a surface of the head rest.

2. A head rest comprising an integral body of resilient porous material,said body having pockets beneath a surface thereof and containers foraromatic material having porous walls in said pockets, said containersbeing of material of resilient quality similar to that of the said body,said pockets having openings leading through a surface of said head restfor the insertion of said containers and means integral with the bodyand composed of similarly resilient material normally closing saidopenings to prevent free escape of the aromatic material but adapted toadmit and release the containers.

3. A head rest, comprising a body of highly resilient material of spongelike porosity having pockets distributed beneath a surface of the headrest lwith openings leading outwardly from said pockets through asurface of the head rest and resilient means integral with said body andof similarly resilient quality closing said openings,

. said openings and said closing means being adaptfumes from saidaromatic material, to be gradually released through said body and otherportions of said head rest.

4. A head rest composed of a highly resilient material of sponge likeporosity, said head rest having pockets distributed beneath a surfacethereof, with openings leading outwardly from said pockets through asurface of the head rest and a plurality of containers having porousWalls and composed of similarly resilient material and adapted tocontain and discharge aromatic material, said containers iltting in saidpockets and being adapted to be admitted and withdrawn through saidopenings, said containers each having an opening to admit the aromaticmaterial and a closure for said openings composed of material of aresiliency similar to that of the container.

5. A head rest comprising a block of resilient material of sponge likeporosity said block having pockets distributed beneath a surface thereofwith openings leading outwardly from the pockets to a surface of thehead rest and removable closures for said openings, and a plurality ofcontainers having porous walls and composed of material of a resiliencysimilar to that of the pillow said containers tting in said pockets.

6. A head rest comprising an integral block of resilient material ofsponge like porosity said block having pockets distributed beneath asurface of the head rest with openings leading outwardly from thepockets to a surface of the head rest and means of a resiliencyapproximately similar to that of the block for closing said openings,and a plurality of containers having porous walls and composed ofmaterial of a resiliency similar to that of the block said containershaving closing means of resilient quality approximating the resiliencyof the block.

JOHN S. LEEB.

